World Heritage Day 2024: Survival Accuses UNESCO Of Being Complicit In Illegal Eviction, Abuse Of Indigenous People

Survival International’s recent report has brought to light disturbing allegations of human rights abuses occurring on Indigenous lands designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The report accuses UNESCO of complicity in these violations and calls for urgent action to address the situation.

Background

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, designates certain sites around the world as World Heritage Sites due to their cultural, historical, or natural significance. However, many of these sites are located on land that was once inhabited by Indigenous peoples. Despite their historical connection to these lands, Indigenous communities often face eviction, violence, and abuse when their territories are designated as protected areas or conservation zones.

Allegations of Abuse

Survival International’s report highlights six World Heritage Sites, three in Africa and three in Asia, where Indigenous lands have been allegedly stolen and where ongoing abuses against Indigenous peoples are occurring. Among these sites is Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, renowned for its one-horned rhinos.

According to the report, Kaziranga has become infamous for extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests carried out by park guards. Indigenous communities, including the Mising and Karbi people, have been targeted, with reports of severe human rights violations. The report alleges that between 1990 and 2016, park guards killed 144 people, including an Indigenous man with severe disabilities.

UNESCO’s Role

Survival International accuses UNESCO of failing to address these abuses effectively. Despite the documented atrocities occurring within Kaziranga National Park, UNESCO’s World Heritage Center has reportedly praised government actions that grant immunity to forest officers for using firearms. This, according to Survival, legitimizes the violence and human rights violations taking place within the park.

Call to Action

Survival International calls on UNESCO to take immediate steps to address the situation. It urges UNESCO to revoke World Heritage status from any site where human rights abuses are occurring and to prioritize the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples living in and around these areas. The organization emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous communities and taking concrete action to rectify them.

The allegations raised by Survival International’s report underscore the urgent need for action to address human rights abuses occurring on Indigenous lands designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is imperative that UNESCO takes these allegations seriously, conducts thorough investigations, and takes decisive steps to protect the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples. Failure to do so would undermine the integrity of the World Heritage program and perpetuate the suffering of Indigenous communities around the world.